The Men Who Tread on the Tiger's Tail (1945)

6.7Not Rated59 minDirector: Akira Kurosawa

1952 Japanese film by Akira Kurosawa

The Men Who Tread on the Tiger's Tail (Japanese: 虎の尾を踏む男達, Hepburn: Tora no O o Fumu Otokotachi) is a 1952 Japanese period drama film written and directed by Akira Kurosawa, based on the kabuki play Kanjinchō, which is in turn based on the Noh play Ataka. It depicts a famous 12th century incident in which Yoshitsune and a small group of samurai cross into enemy territory disguised as monks.

The film was initially banned by the occupying Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers (SCAP), likely due to its portrayal of feudal values. Kurosawa blamed bureaucratic sabotage by the wartime Japanese censors, who also disapproved. It was later released in 1952 following the signing of the Treaty of San Francisco.

Plot summary adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

FAQ

What is The Men Who Tread on the Tiger's Tail about?
The Men Who Tread on the Tiger's Tail (1945) — In 1185, the Heike family fights against the Minamoto family. After a bloody naval battle in the Pacific Ocean, Yoshitsune Minamoto defeats the enemy and the survivals commit suicide. When the triumphant Yoshitsune arrives in Kyoto, his brother, the Shogun Yoritomo, is lured and
Is The Men Who Tread on the Tiger's Tail based on a true story?
See the production background and source material details on the official Wikipedia article.
Is The Men Who Tread on the Tiger's Tail scary?
Content rating: Not Rated. See the reviews tab for parental guidance and tone notes.